Vile lecturer who sexually assaulted an 82-year-old dementia sufferer would visit a rest home THREE times a week - despite having no reason to be there
- Nursing home manager said there was nothing about him that raised suspicion
- Staff said Grant Hannis was reportedly the nursing home's most frequent visitor
- Hannis had a relative in a nearby wing, but chose to sit with other residents
- Staff admitted they did not know why he visited, and said he was always alone
A disgraced lecturer who sexually assaulted an elderly woman would visit a rest home three times a week, a police file has revealed.
Grant Hannis, 55, was sentenced to home detention after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting an 82-year-old woman earlier this year. He worked as a journalism lecturer at Massey University in New Zealand.
The assault took place at a retirement complex in May 2018 when Hannis approached the woman and started a conversation, then followed her to her bedroom and began touching her.
A disgraced lecturer who sexually assaulted an elderly woman would visit a rest home three times a week, a police file has revealed (stock image)
Hannis had a family member in the hospital area of the retirement complex, but would instead spend most of his time in the rest home area, the New Zealand Herald reported.
The rest home manager told police that Hannis was a regular visitor, and turned up wearing a T-shirt and shorts regardless of the weather, according to the police file on the case.
A carer at the rest home said she couldn't explain why Hannis visited so often.
'I don't know of any reason why he would be in the rest home side. I don't think he had reason to be there,' the carer said.
Staff said Hannis would sometimes carry a laptop and stay for up to an hour, but no one ever thought to ask what he was doing.
'I just thought he was a business man or something like that,' the manager said.
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As the assault took place, the dementia sufferer tried to push Mr Hannis away but he was 'too forceful'. He then closed the curtains of her room and continued the assault.
The assault was interrupted after a caregiver had come in, and seeing the pair in darkness together, had asked what was going on.
Not receiving a reply, the caregiver left to find a manager.
Hannis then returned to assaulting the victim, who again tried to push him away.
He then exposed himself to the victim before pulling down her pants and underwear. He left soon afterwards.
The caregiver and a male nurse found the victim alone leaving wearing different pants.
Grant Hannis, 55, was sentenced to home detention after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting an 82-year-old woman earlier this year. He worked as a journalism lecturer at Massey University in New Zealand (stock image)
In a victim impact statement, the daughter of the women, who has vascular dementia after suffering a stroke, said her mother has struggled since the assault.
The man was initially charged with the more serious crime of unlawful sexual connection, but this was downgraded to indecent assault by prosecutors in an attempt get him to plead guilty.
Judge Stephen Harrop called the offending 'unbelievable' at a sentencing hearing last year.
Mr Hannis was sentenced to a sentence of eight months home detention and 100 hours of community work at Wellington District Court, and ordered to pay $3000 emotional harm reparation.
